Teen with Down syndrome crowned prom king
Students at a Montana high school cheered as their prom king and queen were crowned on Saturday night. The prom king was Aaron Clair, a 19-year-old student with Down syndrome, as KRTV News reports.
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“I just felt like my heart was going to explode,” Angie Hovde, Aaron’s mom, told KRTV. “I just, it was unbelievable. It was complete awe. It just means the world.” Yahoo Lifestyle has reached out to Hovde for further comment.
A video taken at the prom shows the student body erupt into cheers when Clair is named prom king. The high schooler has difficulty communicating verbally, according to KRTV, but he’s seen throwing his hand in the air in celebration and high-fiving people in the crowd.
Angie Hovde 💓💓💓💓
Posted by Machelle Burrus on Sunday, March 31, 2019
Sophia Robinson, who was named prom queen alongside Aaron, told the local broadcast station that it was “really cool seeing everyone cheer for Aaron and everyone be so supportive.”
Robinson said she’ll probably remember the day forever, and asked Aaron if he will too.
“Yeah!” he responded.
The excitement continued on Facebook when the community saw the prom video.
“So happy he is prom king!!!” a special education teacher commented.
“I’m not even there and I’m excited … wow what a wonderful prom party,” another commenter added.
A similar story caught the nation’s attention in 2017, when Tyler Kaut, an Iowa high schooler with Down syndrome, was named homecoming king.
Congratulations to Tyler Kaut and @ChaybrinO on being named SEP Homecoming 2017 King and Queen pic.twitter.com/FimTjwUg6c
— Southeast Polk Rams (@SEPolkRams) October 6, 2017
“The kids at school are just so awesome,” Diane Kaut, Tyler’s mom, told the Des Moines Register at the time. “They are real kind and accepting, and they just offer him unconditional love.”
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